Villainess Of Hearts

Her conversation with the King of Hearts didn't last too long—she ensured that it was enough to make it seem like a 'romantic stroll' with her partner, but even then, she didn't want to stay too long with him. And the King of Hearts was fine with it, although that was likely a normal thing.

If there was anything strange, it was his insistence to a better relationship between them.

But he made no complaints when the two of them walked back into the Castle of Hearts. She made no move to converse any further with him, and he simply accepted the silence. This mere acceptance, his inability or choice to not argue with her—it always vexed her.

Did he think that he was better because he could keep his temper in check?

That annoyance she often felt was missing in this hour. And a strange hour that it was, perhaps it was only her exhaustion that made her incapable of getting upset at this hour. Or perhaps it was all the conversation that had gone in the Royal Dining Hall. Only someone like Joker would make such chaos within the solitude of the evening. 

"The ability to see another world?" Rosalyn Lockhart bit back the urge to chuckle."How strange."

And yet who was to say that her Prime Minister did not actually have such a power? The Queen of Hearts had seen the personification of Time and she was aware that he was not in this world of hers—a part of it but still separated in a sense. She couldn't visit him at will unlike what the Joker claimed to have done.

The King of Hearts cleared his throat, "Do you find it so hard to believe, Your Majesty?"

Rosalyn Lockhart pursed her lips and shrugged, "I am not sure, perhaps it could be true—but then it speaks volumes in regards to the magic capacity of the Hearts Kingdoms. Does it skip multiple generations before one possesses such an ability?"

"I have not much of an idea myself."

"But did you know of the Prime Minister's ability?" She eyed him and paused before the two of them reached the entrance back into the castle. The King and the Prime Minister, of course, the two worked together better, even if it was her who had employed the man in the first place. 

"I'd like to think that he had told me before, he is quite understanding of me—I still owe it to Her Majesty of Hearts for giving him to me as a tutor."

His words didn't make much sense but she brushed it over in lieu of their words at the end, "I simply recommended him. The Edelweiss House is a well-respected one, regardless of their commoner background." Even though she didn't like surprises, the information of the Prime Minister having such an ability was something she could understand was kept under wraps.

"Indeed. And that is what surprises Your Majesty? That a commoner can have magic?"

Rosalyn Lockhart shook her head. "No, there are other more peculiar things than that—even someone like you became a King." Her voice was unkind in this moment but she kept a smile on her face, "What else is there to surprise me, Your Majesty?"

"That is indeed a fair point."

Despite her words, he simply agreed with it. Acknowledged it even with nothing but disarming grace. Alexander Hartsmichdt was truly someone who didn't spend his time arguing with her—and perhaps it always annoyed her before because it meant that he didn't even care enough to do so. 

It was an infuriating thing to accept. 

He couldn't be bothered to argue, she wasn't worthy of his attention to even argue with. Her thoughts did not matter to him in the slightest—This time, she simply accepted that this was the case, his nature or perhaps a choice of his.

Only his words of wishing to mend their relationship spoke of his interest to her.

And that was of recent time.

But even that made her judgemental of his actual desires and agendas. What did he wish to accomplish? Was it truly all guilt? Was he ever actually genuine about this thing between them? She balled her hands into fist and nodded. "Well then, a goodnight to His Majesty of Hearts." Rosalyn Lockhart finally curtsied and went through the entrance back to the castle. She didn't wait for him.

This much time was what she was willing to spend with him.

No more, no less.

Any more and she would go down a rabbit hole that she wouldn't escape.

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The very first step she took in the Castle was once again met with another man, and perhaps she did not even need to be surprised that it was him. Her Knight, although he had been asked to not accompany them—which was a huge request, but it came from the King and could not be denied, was waiting fervently for her. 

"Your Majesty!" His head turned to her, relief flooding into his eyes.

And the sight made her inwardly sigh, this much concern and care. Sometimes it truly was too much, and she inclined her head in greeting, "I'm heading to my chambers now, Gine." 

"Then I will escort you, Your Majesty." He bowed. 

She managed a smile, "Thank you." Regardless of what she felt, it didn't change the fact that he was loyal to her, even if to a fault. Thus, the Queen of Hearts walked with her Knight back to her quarters, and nothing was amiss this time. No falling chandeliers, no pesky visitor to approach and bother her. 

But it did not mean that her thoughts were at peace.

Far from it. Since her tea with Catherine Duke to the meeting with the Queen of Clovers and listening to her request, dealing with the Chesire when he visited, seeing the King of Hearts in private and her own conversation with her Knight, to even the mere dinner that she had about an hour ago… it was always hectic.

There was never an hour where she found peace.

But perhaps that was what it meant to be alive.

Never a dull hour.

Although she wished for something more idyllic, and not because she wished to indulge in slothfulness—but an hour or so, or even simply a day to actually relax. She had not been able to cherish it before. Her childhood days were quite missed, if only for the peace it brought her. 

Her Knight opened the door for her and bowed respectfully.

With a small nod, she walked past him and he soon followed in, shutting the door behind him.

She blinked at the sound and looked back at him, "What are you doing here, Gine?"

"I have to ensure that this room is safe, Your Majesty." And it was the same words that he had told her before.

She sighed but nodded, "Alright, do what you wish." It was not only for her benefit but for his as well—it would put his mind at ease.

The people all around her seemed to come in spectrums, from a King who hadn't cared about her to a Knight who adored her above all else. And it made her think of a fairy tale that she had once read, a young child who came across a house and found three objects for everything. One would always be too much, the other too little and one would be enough. 

When the Knight was satisfied, well, assured that no assassin would come—he gave her some privacy. And that was the very moment that Rosalyn Lockhart felt she could finally breathe, the Queen of Hearts rested back against her bed despite not having changed yet.

She shut her eyes and took a deep breath.

Something like this was enough to put her at ease.

And it truly was a relaxing moment, she didn't wish to move, she did not want to get up. This was bliss—and it was as good as, or perhaps even better than tasting the best batch of roseberry tarts that she could ever have. But soon the Queen would rise up and change, she wasn't ingrained to sleep in the same clothes that she had worn for meeting guests and other people. 

Rosalyn Lockhart moved and prepared for bed, and even opened the musical box in her room. The only amount of sounds that she could take within this moment was this, she had no need for Kings, for Knights or even a friend at this hour. What beckoned to her was rest and she would have it.

The Queen of Hearts looked at the mirror of her dresser. Her reflection stood in front of her and though her troubles were far from over, she had barely achieved much and there was much to be feared in the future—she deserved some chance for rest, didn't she?

Out with the troubles for now, Rosalyn Lockhart would deal with them another day. 

She crawled into her bed and sighed, pulling the blankets over her body and nestled deep within it. A cocoon for her to rest and to rejuvenate. Yes, this was just right. 

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And yet beyond the Castle of Hearts, an event occurred within one of the available lodgings in the town adjacent to it. It might have not affected the Castle directly, nor had it touched and suffused its influence on anyone known and named among the entire land but their presence changed something within one of the occupants.

A terrible thing?

Perhaps?

It all depended on whom you were to ask, if this was apt or a necessary activity. The man pulled out his hookah and let out a sigh, he dropped it to the ground and crushed it underneath his feet. The request of the King was done. 

And what happened next?

No one would surely know.. The man disappeared in a fog of mists over a shadowed alley, his appearance would never be seen again in that ungodly hour.